Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-12-14

the tarin permits, the harG-earned coulpensa-
tion OF many DAYS Of toll.
The farmer or the agrieulturist who manu-
features nothing, but who paws the increased
prlce which the tariff imposes upon every agri-
cultural implement, upon all he wears and upon
al he uses and owns, except the increase OF his
nOcks and herds and such things as ia his nus
bandry he produces from the soil. is invited 70
AID in maintaining the present situation: and he
Is told tlat a high duty on imported wool is nee
essary for the benefit of those who have sheen
to shear, in order that tho price OF their wool
may be Increased. They, of course are not re-
minded that the farmer who has no sheep is by
ms scheme obliged, in his purchases of cloth
ins and WOODEN goods. TO pay trisute to
ms Fellow farmer as Wen as TO the manufacture
er ana merchant; nor is any mention made OF
the fact that the sheep owners them elves ana
their households must wear clothing and use
other articles manufactured from he wool thew
sell At tarin prices, and thus as consumers must
return their snare of this increased price TO the
tradesman. think it may be fairy assumed
that large proportion of the sheep owned by
the farmers throughout the country are found
IN small tocks numbering from twenty-five TO
MY. The duty on the grade OF imported wool
which those sheep yield is ten cents FOR each
pound II OF the value OF thirty cents. and twelve
cents II Of the value of more than thirty cents
II the liberal estimate of six pounds be allowed
for each fleece, the duty thereon would be sixty
or seNenty-tWo cents and this may be taken as
the utmost enhancement of the price 10 the
farmer by reason of this duty. Eighteen dol
lars would thus represent the Increased price OF
the wool from twenty-five sheep and thirty-six
dollars that from the wo oil OF fifty sheep; and at
present values this addition would amount 20;
about one-third of its price II upon its sale
the farmer receives this or a less tariff profit
the wool leaves his hands charged with precise
~ that sum, which in all its changes will adj
here TO It, until il reaches the consumer. When
manufactured into cloth and other goods and
material for IFS Cd
10 the extent Of the farmers tariff profit but a
further sum has been added for the benefit OF
the manufacturer under the operation OF other
tariff laws. In the meantime the day arrives
when the farmer finds il necessary to purchase
wooden goods and material 10 clothe himself
and family for the winter. When he faces the
tradesman for that purpose he discovers
that he is obliged not only to return in the
way OF increased prices his tariff profit on
the wool he sold, and which then perhaps lies
before him in manufactured FORM but that he
must add a considerable sum thereto to meet a
further increase in cost caused by "A tariff duty
on the manufacture. Thus in the end he is
aroused TO the fact that he has paid upon a
moderate purchase, IA result of the tariff
scheme, which, when he Sold his wool seemed
so profitable an increase in price, more than
sufficient TO sweep away all the tariff profit he
received upon the wool he produced and sold.
When the number OF farmers engaged in
wool-raising Is compared with all the farmers in
the country. and the small proportion they bear
10 our population is considered; when il is
made apparent that. in case of a large part OF
those who own sheep. the benefit Of the present
,tarin on wool is illusory and. above all, when
lit must be conceded that the increase of the
cost of living caused by such tariff becomes a
burden upon those with moderate means and
the poor, the employed and unemployed. the
sick and well and the young and old, and that
IL constitutes a tax, which. with relentless
grasp, Is fastened upon the clothing OF every
man, woman and child in the land, reasons are
suggested why the removal or reduction of this
duty should be included in revision of our
tariff laws
In speaking of the increased cost TO the con.
sumer of our home manufacture resulting from
duty laid upon imported articles of the same
description, the fact is not overlooked that COM
petition among domestic producers some
times has the effect of keeping the price of their
products below the highest limit iG4ved by
such duty. But it is notorious that this compe-
ttiOn Is too often strangled by combinations
quite prevalent Of this time, and frequently
called trusts, which have for their object the
regulation OF the supply and price of commodi-
ties made and sold by members of the conbina-
ton. The people can hardly hope for any CON
sideratiOn in the operation of these selfish
schemes. If, however. in the absence Of such
combination. healthy and free competition
reduces the price Of any particular dutiable
article of home production below the limit
which it might otherwise reach under our tariff
laws, and If, with such reduced price its manu-
facture continues to thrive, it is entirely evi-
dent that one thing has been discovered which
should be carefully scrutnzed in an effort TO
reduce taxation. The necessity of combina.
ton 20 maintain the price OF any commodity TO
the tariff point furnishes proof that some one
isWilhng to accept wer prices for such com
modify, and that such prices are rcmunerative
and lower prices produced by competition prove
the same thing. Thus where either Of these
conditions exists, case would seem 10 be pre-
scented for an easy reduction of taxation
The considerations which have been presented
touching our tariff laws are intended only TO
enforce an earnest recommendation that the
surplus revenues OF the Government be pre-
vented by the reduction Of our customs duties.
and, at the same time, TO emphasize q sugres-
ton that in accomplishing this purpose we may
discharge double duty to our people by grant
ing TO them measure of relief from tariff taxa
ton where it is most needed and from sources
which 1t can be most fairly and justly accorded.
Nor can the presentation made Of such consid-
erations be- with any degree of fairness re-
garded as evidence OF unfriendness toward our
manufacturing interests, or of any lack OF APP
probation of the value.
These interests constitute a leading and most
substantial element of our National greatness
and furnish the proud proof of our country's
progress Butif. in the emergency that presses
Us, our manufacturers are asked to surrender
something for the public good and to avert dis
d5ltTs AutAT pdlTlOtlSn. is well rs n grateful
cognition of advantages already afforded
should lead them to willingly cooperate
No demand is made that they shall
forego all the benefits of governmental
regard, but they can not fail TO be adj
monished of their duty, as well As their
enlightened self-interest and safety, when
they are reminded of the fact that financial
panic and collapse, TO which the present condi
ton tends, afford greater shelter or pro-
lection to our manufactures than to our other
important enterprises. Opportunity for safe
careful and deliberate reform is now offered
and none OF US should be unmindful Of the time
when abused and irritated people, needless OF
those who have been resisted timely and
reasonable relief may insist upon radical and
sweeping rectifcation OF their wrongs.
The difficulty attending wise and fair revis-
Ion of our tariff laws is not underestimate. II
will require on the part OF the Congress great
labor and care, and especially a broad and ma
tional contemplation Of the subject. and patri-
otto disregard OF such local end selfish claims
are unreasonable and reckless of the welfare OF
the entire country.
Under our present laws more than four tiious-
and articles are subject TO duty. Many OF these
do not in any way compete with our own manu-
features and many are hardly worth attention
as subjects of revenue. considerable reduc-
ton can be made in the aggregate by adding
them TO the free list The taxation of luxuries
presents no features of hardship, but the neces-
saries Of life, used and consumed by all the
people, the duty upon which adds 10 the cost of
living in every home, should be greatly cheap
ened.
Toe radical reduction OF the duties imposed
upon raw material used in manufactures. or its
free importation. is OF course an important fac
tor In any effort 90 reduce the price OF these
necessaries. 1t would not only relieve them
from the increased cost caused by the tariff ON
such material. but the manufactured product
being thus cheapened, that part OF the tariff
laid SYlch as cafi
10 our manufacturers for the present price OF
raw material, could be accordingly modified.
Such reduction, or free Importation
would serve hcsics 70 largely sedlce
the revenue. 1t is not apparent how
such change can have any injurious effect up
! on our manufacturers On the contrary, il
would spPear 10 give them better chance n
foreign markets With the manufacturers OF